We Stood in the Same Spot

“A WIP hiking book not about hikes”

Portraits connecting us at the same spots

The What

We Stood in the Same Spot is a photo series that connects us hikers. Over the course of the next year, I will visit, revisit, revisit, and probably again revisit the same multiple hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. During my hikes I hope to connect with other hikers and take their portraits in the same spots as others.

After I’ve done this during all seasons, I’m going to turn the portraits, the stories, the hiking tips, etc into a book. But this won’t be a book about hikes. I mean, it will be, but it’s also not. It’ll be a book about hikers, about humanity, community, and connection.

The Why

Have you ever seen a photo that someone posted at a landmark or other attraction and you’re like “OMG I have that same photo!”. Then you go down a rabbit hole of reminiscing over the memories you had from that day. You feel a sort of connection with the people that have the same photo.

The same spot allows for a deeper connection to all who have stopped there before you and those that will stop there after you.

Selfishly, it allows me to really get to know certain areas and to share the knowledge I learn with you. It allows me to be a “guest” instead of a “tourist”.

Guests instead of Tourists

My favorite plaque in the park sits at Sprague Lake

“....there are those you can call nothing but tourists. Those that go tearing from coast to coast and back again on their vacations are tourists. When they reach home from their travels they are not certain where they saw this or that…” “...The guest comes to stay every minute of his vacation he can spare. If he fails to see every nook and corner of the place on one visit, he comes year after year…”

Mills Lake